As pandemic-related lockdowns ease, companies are ramping up hiring, and many are looking for candidates who have skills in emerging technologies. Are you preparing accordingly to advance your career? HR Drive reported that employers posted 360,065 tech positions in October, which is the highest monthly total since September 2019. In addition, a third of those positions were related to emerging tech, according to a CompTIA review of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The move to hire employees with emerging tech skills— including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) automation, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT)— is being driven by digital transformation, which has picked up in the wake of the pandemic.
“It’s more common to have a software development job or a data scientist job that requires some level of competency with machine learning,” Tim Herbert, EVP for research and market intelligence at CompTIA, told HR Drive.
You don’t necessarily need a degree in AI to land a job in this field. According to India Today, there are six skills employers generally look for when hiring professionals for AI and ML-related positions:
- Computer programming, including computer architecture, optimization algorithms, data structures, trees, and graphs.
- Statistics and probability: These skills from a key component of AI and ML, and they’re necessary to understand data science.
- Data modeling: This skill is used “extensively in AI to handle pattern recognition and datasets classification.”
- Knowledge of Unix tools: Because most AI processing happens in Linux-based environments, AI professionals are usually required to understand Unix tools.
- Efficiency in distributed computing: Most AI jobs require programmers to handle large amounts of data. One machine cannot deal with so much data, so AI professionals need to understand distributed computing in order to distribute it equally across systems.
- Design and software: Because the final product will be developed into software, AI professionals need to have a fundamental understanding of software design.
Skills Training Programs Key To Employee Job Satisfaction
As employers look to make new hires, they have also struggled to retain tech employees. Known as “The Great Resignation,” many of these employees left their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some link this exodus to pay, the opposite may actually be true.
According to Raconteur, managers may pay too much attention to salary and not enough to job satisfaction. In an interview with the publication, Sandeep Sakharkar, CIO of global contract logistics company GXO Logistics, said there are various ways companies can improve employee job satisfaction, including implementing a more authentic culture, recognizing and rewarding staff, and providing structured learning and development programs that help employees reach their career goals.
“Attrition is a reality for everyone and it’s impossible not to have it,” Sakharkar told Raconteur. “So to succeed today, you really need to have a structured, intentional focus on all of these four areas, and also track your programmes to see how they’re performing against objectives.”
Want to Learn New Digital Skills? Join IEEE Education Week (4-8 April 2022)
IEEE Education Week (4-8 April 2022) is a weeklong celebration of continuing education opportunities provided by the world’s largest technical professional association and its many organizational units, societies, and councils. Through local and regional activities, webinars, online courses, scholarships, and more, this event offers IEEE members and the global community a wealth of educational resources. Participants will get a chance to earn points towards an IEEE Education Week Digital Badge. The celebration will feature both in-person and virtual events. Check out the IEEE Education Week video to learn more.
Who Can Join?
Are you a technical professional looking to develop new skills? A university student in need of networking and training? A STEM educator who wants to expand your students’ knowledge? IEEE Education Week is a great opportunity to explore the educational resources you need most!
IEEE offers pre-university STEM, university, and continuing professional education resources for students, engineers, and technical professionals all over the globe. This weeklong celebration will highlight resources for:
- Engineers and professionals working in technical fields,
- University students and faculty members,
- Anyone looking for pre-university STEM education resources and experiences to encourage the next generation of engineers and technologists
You do not need to be an IEEE member to participate. However, IEEE members receive free and discounted access to many of these events and resources, so be sure to check them out. Not an IEEE member? Now is the perfect time to join to take advantage of membership benefits. Click here to learn more.
Are You Part of an IEEE-affiliated Group?
If you’d like to be involved as an IEEE-affiliated group by offering educational events, resources, and/or special educational offers on the IEEE Education Week website, we would love to feature them! Learn how to get involved.
Resources
Everett, Cath. (11 November 2021). How CIOs can guard against a tech skills exodus. Raconteur.
Torres, Roberto. (8 November 2021). Demand for AI, emerging tech skills stand out in IT talent shortage. HR Drive.
(4 November 2021). 10 tech and non-tech skills to start a career in Artificial Intelligence (AI). India Today.
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